John J. Daly – Dowras – 1901

At the international contest between Ireland and Scotland on last Saturday, a wonderful performance was witnessed in the four miles flat, when John J. Daly of Dowras, in this neighbourhood, finished second, minus a shoe. Daly had his man well in hand up to two and a half miles when one of his pumps fell off leaving him at a big disadvantage in his stride as well as having a foot exposed on a hard cinder track. Nevertheless he kept to the shoulder of the leading Scot with a pluck and determination worthy of all praise, and was but beaten by a few yards after a magnificent race. On this event depended the honour of the Emerald Isle, and but for this regrettable mishap Daly would have surely won. His time for that distance at the Irish Championship in Dublin was well inside that returned for the international race.